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Michael McCandless

Smith and Wesson M&P Shield EZ 9mm review: A practical option for personal self-defense

Updated: Jan 8

One of S&W's more niche options, it leaves little more to be desired for its intended purposes of concealed carry and self-defense- it's small and handy, has multiple safety features built into to it, works like clockwork, is made to a high standard, comes from a legendary and well-trusted manufacturer and more.


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Smith and Wesson M&P Shield EZ 9mm
Smith and Wesson M&P Shield EZ model with manual safety (Image credit: Palmetto State Armory)


Introduction and history


The very old and equally well-established firearm giant Smith and Wesson is one of the most popular brands in the United States.


Their 170+ year reputation of producing bestselling firearm after bestselling firearm has only increased as time has gone on, and they have historically had a particular propensity for making excellent revolvers- they have made such iconic models as the model 29 revolver (made famous by the "Dirty Harry" movies), the model 15, the "Chef's Special" model 36, and many more.


Despite the widespread adoption of semi-automatic pistols during and after World War 2, many commercial firms initially found themselves with few offerings for the first few decades of the second half of the 20th century- including Smith and Wesson, and thus continued to make mostly revolvers for some time.


Like most manufactures, however, they eventually caught up with the times and have produced equally excellent semi-auto handguns for a more modern age right up to the present day, including the M&P line- which is one of the most popular handgun families in the nation.


This particular offering- the Shield EZ 9mm- is one of the more unique firearms they've made- blending a mix of safety with concealability, it's designed to fill the niche of concealed carry and self-defense in the world of firearms- a challenging task, no doubt, given the competition, but as they've always done, Smith and Wesson have risen to the task and succeeded.


In this week's review, we'll be going over the things that make this firearm the success it is, and hopefully we will give you a better understanding of it overall, plus, maybe, just maybe, help you decide if it's right for you!



First impressions and hands-on experience:


Like many gun owners, I've done more than my fair share of window shopping when it comes to firearms (obviously, given that, at the end of the day, these are relatively expensive tools and you can't just go to Target and pick one up after work), and have been encountering this particular model consistently every time.


One day last fall (2022), I got around to trying this particular specimen out, and upon first touching it, I knew it was something special- it's not your typical poly-striker pistol, but rather something a bit more sophisticated and unique.


How it feels


The Smith and Wesson M&P Shield EZ is extremely light and slim even for a poly-striker, at only a little over and inch wide at its widest point, and it's right in a good size range for concealed carry with this combined with the fact it's only 5.05 inches in height.


Furthermore, it's a very safety-oriented gun, with a comfortable grip safety (meaning you have to actually grip the firearm to enable it to fire, the same system as found on 1911's) as well as a manual safety that is conveniently placed- it's easy to actuate without breaking your grip on the pistol, and feels solid and reliable to operate while at the same time not being too "stiff" or "mushy".


I should mention that the trigger pull on this gun- or at least the one I shot- is a bit heavier than most poly-strikers at about 7 pounds, but that shouldn't hinder accuracy or the gun's overall function much.


Features


In addition, it also has a clearly visible loaded chamber indicator (something many other poly-strikers like Glocks may not have)- which could prove comforting to those who want to be sure their gun is loaded without needing to always do press checks (pulling back the slide ever so slightly to see if a round is in the chamber, for those of you who don't know).


Moving beyond these important safety features, the Shield EZ's construction is also of the high-quality Smith and Wesson is known for- like it's larger relative, the Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0, it features a corrosion-resistant armornite finish, and its internal parts are made to the exact same quality as the 2.0 as well- meaning you can expect the pistol to be every bit as reliable and durable.


I wouldn't be surprised if the barrel at least lasted for many, many thousands of rounds, seeing as I've put enormous numbers of rounds through other pistols in the M&P line myself and not had any problems with accuracy (although like all firearms, in order to get it to run reliably for that long, you need to clean it frequently, but fortunately that's easy to do with handguns, and the Shield EZ is no exception).


Other notable things about the Shield EZ


As mentioned previously, it's a small gun- and although its magazine capacity is only 8 rounds (just barely less than half the size of the M&P 2.0 full-size models), this should be adequate for dealing with a single attacker. Its small size means you can readily conceal it without it showing up (or "imprinting") under your clothes, unless you're wearing something really tight-fitting.


Can I see the M&P Shield EZ being used for concealed carry? Absolutely (and it's very commonly used for specifically this purpose). Would I? I might- the small mag capacity is a bit of a turn-off personally, but the pistol's other features compensate for this quite well.


Some other features of note include swappable magazine release buttons (so if you're a lefty, don't fret), a railed fore-end for attaching all your favorite lights, lasers etc. as well as replaceable front and rear sights.


Additionally, the M&P Shield EZ comes with a magazine loader in the box, which will likely prove a godsend to people with arthritis (like me!). Also, perhaps unsurprisingly, there is an abundance of spare parts available for this pistol online, so even if it's not covered by Smith and Wesson's warranty, you can just swap it out for a brand new one readily, whatever it may be.


Shooting it


A fascinating little gun, sure, but if you've made it this far, you're probably wondering "how does the Shield EZ handle during shooting"?


Well, I've shot about 400 rounds of mostly cheap Fiocchi 9mm through this gun on my off-time at work as of last count- it feels typical of most poly-striker pistols but is a bit flippy due to the short-ish barrel (although keeping on target is still relatively easy).


I've had no problems with it thus far in terms of reliability, but the muzzle flash is a bit excessive (a problem which I'd imagine is even worse when using +P ammo) and due to its small frame and the size of my hands, getting a magazine out is a bit difficult without lifting my pinky finger to fully clear the magazine well. It's not a huge handicap as the magazines will readily drop right out of the gun without any pulling necessary, but if I should ever need to do this, it would be a bit of a pain, although still not a fatal flaw by any means.


Cleaning it is also a breeze and the takedown levers (located in their usual spot beneath the midway point along the slide frame) are easy to use, so disassembly and cleaning is much simpler and easy than, say, a Glock (I personally hate having to clean guns but it's vital to their function, and at least Smith and Wesson made it easier and much less frustrating than some of their competitors).


So, all this being said, how would I water it down to describe the pros and cons of this gun?



Pros and cons:


Pros:


  • Has many safety features its competitors do not- including a loaded chamber indicator and a grip safety that is quite convenient- something that is relatively uncommon among many modern guns

  • Is small enough to easily conceal under most type of clothing

  • Has all the same reliability as other Smith and Wesson pistols


Cons:


  • Its magazine capacity is only 8 rounds

  • Muzzle flip and muzzle flash are both a bit excessive (not extremely so, but the difference is noticeable when compared to full-size pistols)



Final thoughts and best deals:


Overall, the Smith and Wesson M&P Shield EZ 9mm is most certainly a good gun for it's intended market- it's small size, convenient safety features and quality of construction make for a handy and reliable pistol in a pinch. Additionally, it is a popular and commonly encountered pistol, so it's availability will always be high, and the abundance of add-ons, spare parts etc. ensures you can also tweak the gun to your liking every bit as much as its larger relatives like the M&P 2.0.


It may not be the most famous firearm in existence but given that Smith and Wesson rarely let their customers down, one shouldn't be surprised that- in the Shield EZ model at least- they've managed to bring us a solid handgun for concealed carry and self-defense that's likely to satisfy their millions of loyalists as they have always done.


If you've decided this pistol is for you, why not check out their availability online? Click on either of the links below to check out the latest prices from our favorite brands, Palmetto State Armory and Brownells!


Gun stats:



Caliber(s)

9x19mm Luger, .380 auto, .30 Super Carry

Action

Single Action

Height

5.05 inches

Barrel length

3.675 inches

Overall length

6.8 inches

Width

1.04 inches

Weight

23.2 ounces

Magazine capacity

8 (9mm and .380), 10 (.30 Super Carry)

Safety

Manual safety, grip safety


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